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A visibilidade que as casas de apostas vêm adquirindo no Brasil está em fase crescente e, para o fã do futebol, em particular, tal crescimento fica mais evidente, pois houve um aumento significativo na relação entre tais empresas e clubes de elite. Além de parcerias com clubes individualmente, as casas também vêm patrocinando até mesmo competições estaduais, nacionais, e continentais, como a Copa Libertadores.

Esse crescimento é de certa forma intrigante, pois ao contrário do que muitos podem pensar, situação similar não acontece em outros países na mesma magnitude com que vem acontecendo no Brasil. Com tantos times da Série A sendo patrocinados, fica até mesmo difícil de saber os times que não são patrocinados por casas de apostas.

Podemos, porém, adiantar que dos 20 clubes da última edição da Série A do Brasil, há 19 que possuem algum vínculo de casas de apostas com o time masculino profissional. Resta um no Brasileirão.

Resta 1

O único time da Série A do Brasil cujo time masculino ainda não é patrocinado por casas de apostas é o Palmeiras, que coincidentemente também é o atual campeão da competição. Todos os outros 19, incluindo o Flamengo, que hoje se encontra na posição de potência no país, possuem ao menos um vínculo com alguma casa de aposta.

Porém, até mesmo a situação do Palmeiras como clube de futebol não fica 100% livre da influência dos sites de apostas, pois no atual momento, o time feminino alviverde é patrocinado por um site. Porém, há realmente algum problema nisso?

O fator principal é que é no mínimo curioso um país onde a atividade de apostar online começou a crescer somente recentemente ter tantos clubes sendo apoiados por sites de apostas. Não há, essencialmente, nada de errado com o fato em específico, pois muitos clubes da elite brasileira dependem dessas parcerias para honrar seus compromissos financeiros, e manter um nível de competitividade aceitável. Alguns chegam a ter as casas como patrocinadores Master.

Confira mais abaixo uma lista com alguns nomes de casas e cassinos que patrocinam times da Série A no Brasil atualmente:

– Betano (Fluminense e Atlético MG)
– Sportsbet.io (São Paulo)
– Pixbet (Flamengo, Santos, Avaí, América MG, Goiás, Juventude)
– Betcris (Fortaleza e Ceará)

Outras casas que poderíamos mencionar aqui seriam:

– Dafabet
– Blaze
– Amuletobet
– Galera.bet
– Estrelabet
– Pix365Bet

Lembrando que a maioria destes sites também operam e oferecem serviços de cassino online, paralelamente às apostas esportivas.

Melhores sites para apostar no Brasil hoje

Sim, é verdade que hoje existe uma infinidade de opções de casas de apostas disponíveis e acessíveis operando no Brasil. Porém, nem todas são de confiança, ou oferecem um serviço de qualidade.

Podemos dizer, porém, que a grande maioria das casas mencionadas acima oferecem serviços de muita qualidade. Se não, não estariam patrocinando os maiores clubes do país, não é mesmo? Ao mesmo tempo, temos casas que não estão na lista mas que oferecem tanto um serviço de apostas como de cassino, que é a bet365, que é respeitada e reconhecida mundialmente. Dito isso, seja para se divertir na bet365 casino, ou no site de apostas da casa britânica, sua experiência com certeza será excelente.

Possíveis cenários para o futuro

A ascensão do mercado de apostas pode ter algumas consequências para os clubes, e também para o próprio país.

A principal delas é a de que os clubes possam se tornar muito dependentes de empresas e sites relacionados a apostas. O principal receio de todos os envolvidos é que possa acontecer algum tipo de interferência ou manipulação com relação a resultados de jogos.

De qualquer forma, essa situação pode ser praticamente descartada uma vez que todos os sites são de reputação internacional séria e sabem que qualquer situação nesse sentido poderia arruinar seus negócios não só no Brasil, mas em todo o mundo.

Em países como Inglaterra, Itália, Espanha, Alemanha, e outros onde as principais ligas de futebol são disputadas, existe no momento esse tipo de discussão sobre a influência das casas de apostas no esporte mundial e sobre como integrar essas empresas ao esporte sem haver prejuízo da isenção necessária para a prática das mais diversas modalidades esportivas.

A verdade é que independentemente de como agir, as apostas cresceram muito no país, pois unem duas paixões e necessidades dos brasileiros: acompanhar esportes e ganhar dinheiro. Dito isso, é bem possível que as apostas tenham chegado para ficar no cenário dos clubes profissionais no Brasil, independentemente dos próximos passos.

في تصريحات حملت الكثير من الصراحة والإنسانية، كشف بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني لمانشستر سيتي عن شعوره بالإرهاق الذهني والبدني، وذلك في حوار تناول فيه رؤيته الشخصية للفشل، وأهمية تقبل لحظات الانكسار كجزء من رحلة النجاح.

وتحدث المدرب الإسباني عن نظرته للفشل في بيئة رياضية واجتماعية باتت تضغط على الأفراد لارتداء قناع السعادة الدائم، وذلك في مقابلة أجراها مع مجلة “GQ”.

وسُئل جوارديولا عن عمره البيولوجي، في مقارنة بما قاله كريستيانو رونالدو مؤخرًا بأن عمره البيولوجي 28 عامًا، فأجاب مدرب مانشستر سيتي مازحًا: “أنا، على حالي الآن، عمري البيولوجي 75 عامًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | “فعلتها في برشلونة”.. جوارديولا يُعلن مصيره بعد نهاية عقده مع مانشستر سيتي

وأضاف: “أشعر أنني محطم تمامًا، كل شيء يؤلمني في هذه اللحظة، ربما لو أجريت الاختبار تظهر نتيجة أصغر، وآمل أن أكون بحال أفضل قريبًا”.

وحين سُئل عن مفهوم الفشل بالنسبة له، خاصة أن احتلال المركز الثالث قد يُعد فشلًا بالنسبة لمدرب بحجمه، قال جوارديولا: “وسعيد جدًا بأنني فشلت، أنا أحب الفاشلين، في هذا المجتمع الذي يجب أن يكون فيه كل شيء مثاليًا، وأن تُنشر على إنستجرام صورة الطبق الذي تأكله وتُظهر السعادة الدائمة”.

وأتم: “حسنًا، أنا حزين أحيانًا، أفشل وأخسر، وماذا في ذلك؟ قل لي شخصًا لا يمر بهذا! المهم أن تبذل جهدك وتفعله بإخلاص، نعم، النتائج لم تكن كما توقعت، لكن في اليوم التالي هناك فرصة جديدة، وسأحاول مجددًا، هذا هو جوهر الأمر”.

The Asian Cricket Council have also announced an award of US $50,000 for the team of groundspersons

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-20232:07

Why don’t they use Super Soppers in Sri Lanka?

Rain was a constant in the Sri Lanka leg of matches at the Asia Cup, and the groundspersons in Pallekele and Colombo put in a heroic effort to ensure more cricket was played than might have been thought possible. From the winning India side, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, at different points in the tournament, thanked the groundspersons for their work, and Mohammed Siraj went one step further after the final, donating his Player-of-the-Match prize money to the team of workers.”This cash prize [US $5000] goes to the groundsmen. They deserve it fully. This tournament wouldn’t have been possible without them,” Siraj said after putting in a spectacular spell – 6 for 21 – which turned the title clash into a no-contest, India winning in 21.3 overs of cricket.Earlier in the day, the Asian Cricket Council had announced an award of US $50,000 for the team of groundspersons as well.Images of the groundspersons reacting to approaching clouds, at the ready with the covers, was a regular during the broadcasts, and the alacrity and expertise with which they protected the pitch and then the outfield impressed all and sundry.Despite all the rain around in Sri Lanka, only one match ended in a no-result, the group-stage contest between Pakistan and India. The Super Four game between the same opponents went into the reserve day (it was the only Super Four game to have one), while the India vs Nepal and Pakistan vs Sri Lanka games were curtailed.The final, too, was affected mildly by rain. It came down soon after the toss, and the start of the game was delayed by ten minutes.

The arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri are just what the striker needs to fire Pep Guardiola's side to world domination

Erling Haaland spent the first part of his summer eating lobster while away on holiday. Then he munched Norway's World Cup qualifying opponents, scoring in the huge win over Italy before grabbing the only strike against Estonia to put his country well on track to qualify for their first global tournament since 1998.

Now, the striker will be licking his lips for another feast of goals at the Club World Cup, especially after Manchester City have assembled a deadly new attack around him by signing Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri amid a £110 million ($149m) spending spree.

Haaland's two main passions are eating and scoring, but on the pitch he was made to go hungry towards the end of last season. He missed six weeks of action for City after suffering an ankle injury in late March, and when he returned in May, he seemed to lack his usual sharpness and, most worryingly, his appetite for finding the net.

Haaland failed to score in his first three games back and turned down the chance to take a penalty in the FA Cup final, leaving Wayne Rooney to suggest: "Maybe the thought of taking a penalty at Wembley might have been too much for him."

The striker was back on spot-kick duty in the final game of the season at Fulham as he helped clinch City's place in next season's Champions League. However, finishing third in the Premier League did not salvage what was "a catastrophic season", in Haaland's own words. But now he has got his appetite back at international level, the Club World Cup offers him and City the perfect platform to put things right.

Getty'Not good enough'

Haaland had a massively disappointing season on both a collective and individual level. Having won the treble in his first season at City, retained the Premier League title in his second while collecting a second-successive Golden Boot, he ended his third season without any trophies at all while finishing third in the league's top-scorer rankings behind Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak. His tally of 22 league goals was the joint-lowest of his career, and although 31 strikes in all competitions is a tally most strikers would be pleased with, Haaland could not hide his dissatisfaction with his achievements, as well as those of his team.

"I haven’t been good enough. I haven't helped the team enough," he told. "In the end, we haven’t been good enough. Every single one of us hasn't been good enough and we haven't been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren't going to win games in this country because it's so hard. This season has been tough. It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. The club has set the standards so the bar is so high that this season is a catastrophic season."

It was just not the results that frustrated the striker, as Haaland also pointed at a lack of desire across the squad, saying that held City back more than they should have done while refusing to blame the many injuries they suffered; "You can find excuses. Injuries, many injuries at bad times, but in the end we haven't been performing well enough. We haven't had fully the hunger inside of us. Sometimes you just need to run. We haven’t run enough this season."

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Even with his injury problems and his reduced goal count, Haaland was still one of City's best players last season. The problem was that the other usual suspects did not turn up. Phil Foden experienced a huge drop off from the form which made him the PFA Player of the Season in 2023-24, as he scored just seven Premier League goals and provided two assists compared to his 19 goals and 11 assists the previous year.

Kevin De Bruyne's final campaign with City was handicapped by injuries as the man who used to be Haaland's biggest provider of goals endured his second-least productive season of his 10 at City. The Belgian set up just one goal for the Norwegian all season, and given that he set up four goals for Haaland in one game at Luton Town the previous campaign, it is no wonder Haaland failed to fire at his usual terrifying rate.

Bernardo Silva's Premier League goal contributions dropped from 15 in 2023-24 to just eight while Julian Alvarez's 20 goal contributions left with him to Atletico Madrid. His replacement, Omar Marmoush, only arrived in late January, and although his seven goals were welcome, he didn't register a single assist. Rodri, responsible for 17 goals and assists in 2023-24 on his way to winning the Ballon d'Or, missed almost the entire season with a serious knee injury.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowManchester City FCCherki ready to thrill

The cavalry has now arrived in the form of new signings, and if Haaland found last season "boring", he has a lot to be excited about in regards to what's coming next. City have been swift and decisive in the transfer market and snapped up three players who know how to create goals for others while also scoring a healthy amount themselves.

Cherki is the standout new arrival when it comes to supporting Haaland as he is the defacto replacement for De Bruyne. City fans might be understandably disappointed to have missed out on Liverpool-bound Florian Wirtz, but Cherki is a thrilling prospect.

The France international first came to wider attention at the age of 16 when he became Lyon's youngest-ever scorer, and at one point was compared to Lionel Messi while being linked to Real Madrid. But after a couple of underwhelming seasons and failing to get on with certain coaches, he exploded into life last term, contributing to 31 goals in all competitions. Cherki scored eight times and set up another 11 in Ligue 1 despite a hugely disappointing season for his club, while he was even more impressive in the Europa League, contributing to 12 goals in his side's run to the quarter-finals before their agonising defeat to Manchester United, against whom he netted in both legs.

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Manchester City FCAdding energy and goals

If Cherki is the rough diamond brought in to fill the boots of De Bruyne as City's primary playmaker, then Reijnders feels like the heir to Ilkay Gundogan. The German might have had an underwhelming second stint at the Etihad Stadium – which should not really have been surprising given the 34-year-old's age – but his feats from the previous years will never be forgotten.

Reijnders, by contrast, is in the prime of his career. He was named the Best Midfielder in Serie A last term as well as being included in the league's Team of the Season. He scored 15 times in all competitions while adding four assists for a struggling AC Milan side, and has worked hard on improving his productivity. That's good news for City as they look to ease the goal-scoring burden on Haaland, who scored triple the amount of league goals of his nearest challengers, Marmoush and Foden, this past season.

"I like to help the attackers, create chances and try to score a goal by myself sometimes. As a midfielder, it’s important to score goals as well," Reijnders explained. "Two years ago, I didn’t score that many goals and I worked on it that summer and seeing what I needed to do better in front of the goal. This season, it worked out and I got on the scoresheet more."

A self-described 'box-to-box' midfielder, Reijnders should help City recover the intensity they lost last year. In the words of City's new director of football, Hugo Viana: "Tijjani adds extra energy, composure and creativity to our midfield, and working with Pep and our coaches will only see him go from strength to strength."

Liverpool have shown time and time again that they can endure when the going gets tough. Players come and go, that’s football.

But Anfield has a knack for high-level sustainability, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s expected decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid at the end of what looks to be a Premier League title-winning season shouldn’t knock Arne Slot’s project too far out of kilter.

FSG might be a tad divisive at times, but their strong framework breeds lasting success, and sporting director Richard Hughes will be expected to distribute transfer resources well this summer.

Trent’s departure will sting for awhile, of course it will, but Liverpool’s production line has perhaps never been as deep as it is right now, and there are indeed prospect’s waiting in the wings.

Liverpool's rich crop of youngsters

When Alexander-Arnold leaves, Curtis Jones, 23, will take the mantle as Slot’s leading Liverpudlian, having already made 170 appearances since breaking in from the academy.

The future is bright, with the likes of Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Ben Doak only a few of the next generation positively bursting with potential. That’s without even addressing Alexander-Arnold’s ostensible replacement Conor Bradley and fellow defensive up-and-comer Jarell Quansah, who Newcastle United are chasing and is worth upwards of £30m.

Not all of the highly-regarded prospects will hit their potential, mind. Such knowledge does make Alexander-Arnold’s brilliance since becoming Liverpool’s homegrown poster boy all the more staggering.

There was once a youngster considered to be of an even higher calibre than Alexander-Arnold, but sadly, injuries and circumstances have reduced him to a shadow of that once lofty potential.

Liverpool's fallen prodigy

Liverpool have never had the most unrelenting of production lines, but there are some that filter through Merseyside’s youth ranks who just look destined for greatness. Trent’s one, Steven Gerrard another.

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The man in question here, however, is Rhian Brewster, who looked a barnstorming young player through his formative years but was sold to Sheffield United in 2020 for a £23.5m fee. Aged 20 at the time, the English nine was regarded as one of his age bracket’s foremost talents.

Regarded as ‘Liverpool’s next great hope’ when cutting his teeth as a professional, Brewster scored a hat-trick in a friendly against Accrington Stanley in 2017 and looked to be the latest Merseyside marvel, but injuries sadly disrupted his 18th year and perhaps precluded his chances of breaking into Liverpool’s first team, sold as he was after returning from his layoff.

As you can see below, it’s been pretty miserable going for Brewster since that successful loan stint with Swansea City in 2019/20.

It’s sad, when looking at how the 24-year-old was at his more formative levels, that injuries have frustrated such fundamental development.

After all, his statistics across the younger years of his career bespeak prodigious potential.

Sheffield United

109

8

4

Liverpool U21

28

13

10

England U17

23

20

1

Swansea City

22

11

0

England U21

18

3

2

Liverpool U18

11

5

4

Liverpool

4

0

0

Everyone was arrested by the giddy potential on show. To be sure, many young prospects look to be a cut above their age-mates, but there was something “special” about him, as Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy commented way back in 2018.

Though he didn’t actually feature, Brewster was included by Klopp in a Premier League matchday squad in 2016/17, making the bench as Liverpool fell to a 2-1 Anfield defeat against Crystal Palace. Perhaps if the Reds weren’t in such dire straits, Brewster could have tasted the top-flight grass aged just 16.

Alexander-Arnold had already made his introduction at this point, featuring seven times and starting twice in the league across the same campaign. The difference, however, is that he was already 18, two years Brewster’s senior.

Hailed as “the complete striker” with an “unbelievable” ball-striking ability by Klopp’s former assistant Pep Lijnders, Brewster was touted for big things alright.

Said to have been on the fast-track from the moment Klopp walked through the Anfield gates, Brewster bagged back-to-back hat-tricks for England at the U17 World Cup in 2017, standing out with 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Year Phil Foden as the cream of the crop.

It’s a sad tale that he has languished on Sheffield United’s bench for the past interminable years, but Brewster is determined to resurrect his career after flashes of promise in the Championship of late, scoring three goals and laying on two assists since December, rebounding from an earlier thigh problem.

All of a Liverpool persuasion will simply wish the centre-forward to hit his stride and impress over the coming years, but given that Transfermarkt record his value to sit at a lowly £2m right now, it’s hard to argue against the decision to sell him to the Blades in 2020.

In fact, Liverpool hit the jackpot on this fallen prodigy, who might have sat at the top of Liverpool’s pillars of promise once, even ahead of Alexander-Arnold, but now looks unlikely to drink the riches as his compatriot, who has won it all on Merseyside and will surely add more to his high-brim cabinet under the scorching Spanish sun.

Talks held: Man Utd now eye £40m+ speedster Liverpool want to replace Trent

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Neymar has issued a grovelling apology after his needless red card for a blatant handball proved costly in Santos' loss to Botafogo on Sunday.

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Neymar issued apology after handball red cardBrazil star claimed first yellow card could have been avoidedBotafogo beat Santos 1-0 with late goalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Neymar was sent off in the 76th minute after he picked up a second yellow card for punching the ball into the net. The Brazil icon's absence proved costly as Botafogo scored the winning goal 10 minutes later and secured a crucial three points in Brazil's Serie A.

AdvertisementWHAT NEYMAR SAID

After the game, the 33-year-old attacker posted an apology on social media as he wrote: "Desperation of scoring sometimes causes us to commit mistakes… I want to apologise to my teammates and also to the fans! I made a mistake, forgive me!!! Today, if I didn't get sent off, I’m sure we could get the 3 points.. Congratulations to the team for today's game! Those 3 points can be put on my account!!!"

IG:@neymarjr

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Neymar also claimed that he was wrongfully shown his first yellow card, thereby indicating that his sending off could have been avoided, as he added: "Note: second yellow has to be given, but the first one is the judge's drainage, I made a mistake and I'm already taking yellow… What a bad judge. That's just my opinion…please don't punish me anymore."

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Santos will be back in action in the Brazilian top division on June 13 as they take on Fortaleza away from home – but they will be without the suspended Neymar.

Liverpool know how to win. Rivals might not like it, but Arne Slot has created the best team in England this season, and one of the best across the continent.

Recent victories over Champions League rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Southampton in the Premier League have underpinned the brilliance of this Merseyside outfit, capable of winning in different ways, protean to the nth degree.

So then, what makes this Liverpool side so brilliant? It’s the obvious route, sure, but you’d have to start with the superstars.

The numbers behind Liverpool's title charge

Slot is an elite level unto himself, but he’s certainly been helped by the staggering quality of some of Liverpool’s finest.

Where to start but with Mohamed Salah, whose attacking greatness has seen him chalk up 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions, break incalculable records.

Salah is the offensive poster boy and rightly so, but he’s no more influential than his skipper, Virgil van Dijk.

The towering Dutchman is truly redoubtable, fusing inimitable defensive skill with supreme leadership and eye-catching distribution. Van Dijk is every bit as important as his flashier peer, so important in ensuring Liverpool push forward.

Along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, these players are into the final few months of their careers on Merseyside, and while sporting director Richard Hughes is fighting for them to put pen to paper, the future is uncertain and worrying.

They are each of them unsellable, untouchable pillars of Anfield’s infrastructure. Of course, this is redundant, for each can leave if they so wish.

However, they aren’t the only untouchables in Slot’s squad, with one surprise figure earning that status with his performances this season.

Liverpool's unlikely untouchable star

Not everyone in Liverpool’s first team starts every week, but each player has a role. For example, Darwin Nunez might reportedly be up for sale and struggling to hit the expected heights, but he’s still popped up with some big moments, contributing toward the multi-front title charge.

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Likewise, Harvey Elliott, 21, has been angered by his lack of game time this term but remains one of the most gifted young playmakers in the business, underscoring his value by netting an incredible winner in Paris last week.

However, similarly to Nunez, Elliott is allegedly wanted by several clubs and FSG could bank a pretty penny by selling him. Both players could be sold this summer, albeit fans would be dismayed at the 21-year-old’s playmaker’s departure.

But there’s another older fringe player in Slot’s squad who has established himself as an unsellable part of the team. His name is Wataru Endo.

The 32-year-old midfielder is approaching the end of his second season on Merseyside, having won one title to date and completed 68 appearances, scoring two goals and registering one assist.

The Japan captain struggled to win Slot over across the opening months of the Premier League campaign, only playing 20 minutes across six matches before Christmas. However, he’s become a regular feature in recent months, instrumental in keeping Liverpool afloat as they chase down multiple major honours.

That said, Endo has been used prominently across domestic cup competitions, showcasing his value by completing 91% of his passes in the Carabao Cup, also averaging two tackles per game and winning 63% of his duels, as per Sofascore. His efforts have been key as Liverpool prepare for the final against Newcastle United this weekend.

Though he hasn’t started a single Premier League match in 2024/25, Endo has been a core part of Slot’s plans, hailed as a “red machine” by talkSPORT’s Steve Hothersall.

Recent weeks have seen him hit a new level of appreciation at the club. Liverpool have won each of the five fixtures listed below, in no small part down to Endo’s combative late injection.

Minutes

19′

17′

13′

11′

9′

Accurate passes

5/5 (100%)

1/1 (100%)

16/16 (100%)

5/5 (100%)

3/3 (100%)

Tackles + interceptions

1

2

1

0

1

Clearances

0

1

1

2

0

Duels won

3/5

2/4

0/0

0/0

1/2

Remarkably, Endo hasn’t misplaced a single pass over his past five appearances in all competitions, so underrated in his ability to slow games down and ensure Liverpool have control and composure in the dying embers.

He’s the perfect shop-shutter. As per FBref, the 32-year-old ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 15% for tackles, the top 20% for interceptions, the top 13% for blocks and the top 18% for clearances per 90.

Such impactful late-stage displays have seen Endo cultivate a cult hero status from those of a Liverpool persuasion. He is adored.

How curious that Liverpool were met with derision when purchasing him from Stuttgart for £16m in August 2023, mocked for missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea. Well, Endo bested Chelsea’s crop in last season’s Carabao Cup final and is now heading for a Premier League title and perhaps even more.

Drafted in by Jurgen Klopp as a stop-gap option at number six, Endo has proved himself as a priceless part of Liverpool’s team.

As per Football Transfers, the tough-tackling midfielder is valued at just £11m. Where would be the value in selling him, especially when he brings something different, almost diametrically opposed to Ryan Gravenberch as a number 6.

Indeed, this player’s value is found on the pitch. If you pay attention you’ll see. We’re deep into the second half, and there he is. Bib off, jogtrot down the sideline, and then he’s unleashed to an uproarious Anfield crowd, who delight in his defensive impact.

Fair play to Salah and Van Dijk, they are two of the finest players of their generation. But fair play to Endo. Klopp saw something in this industrious athlete, who is now invaluable as the Premier League title draws near.

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Jorge Sampaoli has attempted to explain his comment in which he claimed Ousmane Dembele "plays like an autistic" person.

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• Sampaoli issued formal apology
• Remarks were made during Euro 2024
• Samapoli claims he is 'very emotional'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sampaoli apologised last summer after claiming that Dembele "plays like an autistic" at Euro 2024. The former Argentina boss claimed that Dembele "only has the ability to make himself shine" but, at the time, he appeared to realise he had made an unacceptable comment.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, though, Sampaoli has re-litigated the issue, claiming that he expressed himself badly, but he has again claimed Dembele is too selfish. In a rather confusing explanation, the manager has also claimed the Paris Saint-Germain star is capable of being one of the best players in the world.

• WHAT JORGE SAMPAOLI SAID

  Sampaoli said to : "I was very bad at expressing myself. I'm very emotional and passionate, and all I wanted to say was that Dembele isn't an association player. He looks at his opponents and the goal much more than his team-mates. For me, he's one of the best in the world, but in a context like Barca's, where association is necessary, he isolates himself and doesn't perform as well. He plays his game, he does it very well, but I attach a lot of importance to authority and association football."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  PSG face Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Dembele scored the only goal in the first leg, giving the French side a 1-0 lead for the second leg at Parc des Princes.

The two added 71 for the seventh wicket before Hardie shepherded his team home

Tristan Lavalette02-Nov-2022

Emerging allrounder Aaron Hardie thwarted fringe Test seamers Michael Neser and Mark Steketee on a green WACA pitch, as Western Australia recorded a remarkable three-wicket comeback victory against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.After WA slumped to 4 for 24 chasing a difficult 194, having made just 115 in their first innings, Hardie was the hero with an unbeaten 70, and he hit the winning runs with a superb straight drive to the boundary off Steketee late on day three.Hardie provided the finishing touches after Hilton Cartwright dug WA out of a major hole with the pair combining in a valuable 71-run seventh-wicket partnership.Even though it was a bowler-friendly wicket, Hardie said WA’s strong batting order maintained confidence throughout. “I thought we could chase 300 in the last innings,” Hardie said. “We’re a good cricket team and we bat really deep. We knew it was going to be hard early but we always backed ourselves.”Having mostly controlled the match, it was a bitter loss for Queensland with both teams having entered the clash with one win and a draw from their previous two matches”We just didn’t capitalise in the third innings, it was costly. That’s where we lost the game,” said captain Usman Khawaja after Queensland were bundled out for 97 after gaining a 96-run first-innings advantage.In warm conditions, a far cry from the mid-winter temperatures experienced in Perth during the T20 World Cup double-header on Sunday, Neser threatened to rip through WA’s batting order.After 20 wickets fell on day two, WA made a disastrous start to their chase when captain Sam Whiteman bagged a pair before nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli was dismissed hit wicket after awkwardly fending a searing bouncer from Neser.With WA 3 for 9, the pressure was on 18-year-old sensation Teague Wyllie as Neser and Steketee bowled in tandem for the opening 30 minutes of play. But he struggled to cope with Neser’s sustained accuracy, edging to second slip as WA spiralled.The smattering of fans were left pondering whether WA could bat through to lunch, having watched 11 wickets fall on a dramatic final session on day two.But Cartwright and emerging left-handed batter Sam Fanning dug in and weathered the storm. Fanning, who made his Shield debut earlier in the season and struck an eye-catching half-century against India in a T20 practice match three weeks ago, survived a huge lbw shout from Xavier Bartlett on 17 and carried on as the pair combined for a half-century partnership.WA’s hopes were further raised amid a hardening pitch, with less grass evident than previous days, as batting appeared slightly easier. But Fanning’s 83-ball resistance ended after being clean bowled by Bartlett with WA still needing over 100 runs for victory.Keeper-batter Josh Philippe then had a soft dismissal, hitting a length delivery from Neser straight to mid-off.It was up to Hardie, the last recognised batter who top scored in WA’s first innings with 44, to support Cartwright and he mixed compact defence with occasional counterattack.Hardie’s confidence rubbed off on Cartwright, who started to play more fluently as he reached his half-century – just the third of the match- before tea set the stage for a nerve-jangling final session.Inching closer to a century, Cartwright fell to a spectacular one-handed return catch from Neser with WA requiring a further 41 runs.Neser then tested Hardie with short-pitched bowling, while legspinner Mitchell Swepson – who didn’t bowl in WA’s first innings – was brought into the attack in a last-ditch effort from Queensland.But Hardie kept his cool to register a famous WA victory that had coach Adam Voges understandably delighted in the terraces.

After parting ways with Paul Warne, Derby County are now reportedly set to make a formal approach to hire a rival manager from within the Championship.

Derby recuse point at Norwich after Warne departs

Having suffered as many as eight defeats on the bounce, Warne was always likely to be a manager in danger of being shown the door and a 1-0 loss against Sheffield United proved to be one too many as the Rams jumped into action. In the depths of a relegation battle, it’s fair to say that those at Pride Park must get their next appointment right.

Releasing a statement after sacking Warne, Owner David Clowes said: “Paul is a man of great integrity and embodies the values we hold important at Derby County. No fan should ever forget his contribution in securing promotion to the Championship. I certainly won’t.

“However, results in football dictate decisions and we felt that to give us the best chance of retaining our Championship status, the time was right to make a change.

“Paul goes with our thanks, gratitude and best wishes. He and his family will always be welcome at Pride Park.”

Now in need of a replacement after Jerry Yates’ late goal earned a point at Norwich on Saturday, the Rams have turned towards a Championship rival. According to John Percy of The Telegraph, Derby are now set to make a formal approach to hire John Eustace, who is currently in charge of Blackburn Rovers.

Given that Blackburn are a side competing for a place in the play-offs, Derby’s attempt to lure Eustace to Pride Park is certainly an ambitious one but they may be hoping that his connection as a former player lures him back to the club.

"Solid" Eustace would be incredible coup

If Derby managed to convince Eustace into ditching his current Blackburn project, which is currently on course for the playoffs, in favour of a relegation battle then it would undoubtedly be among the moves of the season. The ambitious Rams have not been scared away by the contrasting position that Blackburn find themselves in and where there’s a will there is certainly still a way.

Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that Birmingham City were left regretting their decision to sack Eustace in what led to their relegation despite being well-placed to compete for a top six finish when they made their decision. Now, Blackburn should be desperate to keep hold of the Derby target and avoid a similar fate.

Praised for the “very solid job” that he did at Birmingham by fan pundit HLTCO when the shock news of his departure emerged, Eustace should avoid being at the centre of another managerial change and remain on a path to success at Blackburn.

Derby, meanwhile, may find themselves with their tails tucked between their legs if their incredibly ambitious move is shut down before it can even accelerate in the coming weeks.